Local planners stress importance of location
When planning a wedding,
several local coordinators
say location is an important
factor to take into account
By Ashley Griffin
Freelance Reporter
Whether it's barefoot on a
beach, holding hands in a vine
yard or standing in a local chapel,
it doesn't take a wedding planner
to understand that location is an
important aspect of a wedding.
Weddings Extraordinaire wed
ding planner Marlene Hockema
uses outdoor settings because of
the flowers, gardens, water and
all-around natural beauty they
provide. She plans outdoor wed
dings at local venues, including
the Beacon House, Chateau Lor
rane, the Coburg Inn, Belnap Gar
dens and her personal favorite, Ea
gle Rock Lodge.
"Outside locations are the most
popular," Hockema said.
Hockema isn't the only person
who prefers outdoor settings —
the trend for outdoor weddings
has grown such that outdoor loca
tions are often booked up to two
years in advance.
Jo Dial has been a wedding coor
m
dinator with The Wedding Solu
tion since 1997 and agreed that
outdoor weddings are the most
popular.
"Outside, the feelings flow with
Mother Nature," Dial said. She rec
ommends popular outdoor loca
tions such as Whisper-N-Oaks, a
private home just north of Junc
tion City, for spring, summer and
fall weddings. Dial said she be
lieves winter weddings are ideal for
couples who want to trade vows
with a holiday theme. Churches
and country clubs are great indoor
wedding locations, and decora
tions are especially easy to come by
around Christmas, as most indoor
locations provide poinsettias or a
Christmas tree. These locations can
also accommodate a large crowd,
which is an important factor when
choosing a location.
One of the factors Hockema uses
to decide on the venue is the size of
the wedding party. She also consid
ers the season and whether the
bride wants a simple or lavish wed
ding. Hockema and Dial agree that
the bride's preferences are consid
ered first and foremost.
"I'm basically looking for a loca
tion that fits with the bride's per
sonality," Dial said. "It's her day,
and every bride has a dream for her
perfect day."
University senior Grace Fisher,
22, already had ideas for her wed
ding location when she entered
into her engagement with high
school sweetheart losh Cramer. Be
cause Cramer is a student in Chica
go, the couple have the added chal
lenge of coordinating the Boise
wedding over a long distance.
Fisher and Cramer had to con
sider many aspects about the loca
tion before making their decision.
Fisher commented on her need to
have the ceremony at home, and
the couple decided on a chapel for
the wedding and a golf club for
the reception — both of which
needed to accommodate a large
crowd. Both students are actively
involved in their church and were
looking for a traditional wedding
atmosphere.
"We were going for an elegant
and classy feeling," Fisher said.
Indoor or outdoor, sand or
snow, the location can prove to be
one of the most difficult and re
warding aspects of a wedding be
cause it will send the newlyweds
into married life with memories of
the day they said "Ido."
Ashley Griffin is a freelance reporter
for the Emerald.
The Campbell
House, located
at 252 Pearl St.,
offers plush rooms
ideal for a couple
on its honeymoon.
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